Do you think if it this question were put on a national ballot it would pass? Most people here are progressive or liberal and therefore more inclined to say legalize it, but my guess is moderate voters, and even some conservative people would see the logic in legalizing it.

@paul1967 I don’t think it would pass. This country is way too christian. Logic only matters to a logical mind.

@ArdentAtheist LMAO. It's funny because it's true and it's sad for the same reason.

LMAO Man do I miss him. He didn't have, common sense he had exceptional sense.

All good points

You're spot on as usual.

@paul1967 thanks & blush

I swear this isn't me trying to be insensitive or rude I'm just confused are you a sex therapist or an escort? I know you said you're a nurse but I got a little confused towards the end.

@paul1967 @Sunshinegardener is a retired nurse. She never said she was a therapist. She explained why she enjoys doing what she does and what she likes about it, and that she likes the money. You swear it is not you trying to be insensitive or rude, but I would suggest you to try some other way because you came across as insensitive and rude.

I said "if people want something..." Are you implying that you want murder?

@Fanburger You're comparing prostitution to murder? I may be able to see your point if the person agreed to be murdered.

That's true to a point and trust me I get you know this, but there are limits to that philosophy. An example would be underage prostitution. My primary concern is that we legalize prostitution and the criminals who profited from adult prostitution will turn to sex trafficking children.

@Fanburger Legalized murder? Reminds me of the movie, The Purge.

@Fanburger extrapolation is not actual thought!

You have a point I hadn't considered. I don't know the answer to that, but my instinct says it might lessen it because the government regulates it and they get taxed like everyone else, but I could be wrong too. Anyways, good point, I'll need more time to consider it.

I think it would affect trafficing by cutting off the supply. If men (or women) were able to go to a place and do this legaly then there would be less of a market for sex trafficing. Also women who are assulted or abused by a client during the corse of things would be able to go to the athorities. As of now they can't do much about it because they would be admitting to a crime themselves.

Legalization would permit law enforcement to concentrate on trafficking rather than harassment of women working to make a living. Trafficking won't stop, but it can be better policed.

@paul1967 there is an interesting documentary on Netflix called Tricked (2013) that discusses the connection between prostitution and human trafficking. I'm not suggesting it's the end all on the topic but it brings a few views to light worth considering.

[m.imdb.com]

@MarlaPaine I will check it out. Thank you

I was thinking them when i said legalize

I get the hint of satire, and irony yet you're both forgetting another factor. Cost.

If you think that the majority of these "incels" have high paying careers apart from their self destructive lifestyles, whether chosen or inflicted due to mental health issues, can afford a brothel then it's sadly not in the realm of reality.

Not to forget that most of these incels are the most common "slut shamers" out there, so legal prostitutes would be seen to them as 'unworthy' and a waste of money.

While it may not cure these whiny, hot air bags, of their apparent, media hyped desire, to seek out our blood. It'd be a damn fun time for those that seek out sex for the pleasure of sex. I vote legalize.

@DavidAckerman Actually I was half joking with that. I think there would be some effect on incel culture--but some mutated form would likely remain. Like, they would make it about "girlfriendy-stuff" like affection, appreciation, love, dating, emotional support, etc. The same "Wah, girls aren't giving me" but only not about sex anymore.

@BeardedWonder You are obvs more studied up on this than I. Sounds totally legit.

@stinkeye_a
Oh stop it you, I'll blush. I wouldn't say studied, I'm an armchair psychologist at best; I just try to look at the larger picture.

Even in Australia prostitution is legal, though regulated under state law.

@LetzGetReal We are the prudes of the world (except for the Middle East). And we owe it all to...religion!!

Very well stated, and I agree.

@SpikeTalon

Thank you.

That is a little naive - isn't it?

@DerekD No. Just like drugs. Keeping them illegal means that nobody will do drugs.

@indirect76 ??? exactly

Here's the podcast with Jan Mackell Collins who studied prostitution in the 19th Century American West and it's affects on society therein. Really interesting stuff and rather (to me) ironic.

[player.fm]

@Gnarloc That was incredibly informative. I had absolutely no idea, but that makes perfect sense. It wasn't in any of my grade school history books, and if it had, I probably would have gotten a better grade. Thank you for sharing that with me.

@LetzGetReal A good research question would be the presence of disease in brothels through the ages (including convents, as there is some evidence the church used them as a sort of brothel). I say this because some of the diseases that you and I know of, and now associate with STDs, were not known, or as prevalent, back in the day... or at least some of the reading I have done suggests that being 'loose' wasn't as much of an issue, back when.

I became an adult in the '80s and fully realize that I dodged the HIV bullet... but, how prevalent was it really at the time? Ie: I had several partners and wasn't very 'safe' but didn't get sick...so, how prevalent were STDs, and specifically HIV, back then?

Again: Good research question!

I agree, however, whether it's legal or not, it's happening.

@paul1967 That is true, but legalizing it is not a solution.

@Davesnothere Is the better solution to keep it illegal allowing criminals to profit, diseases to be spread, and having drugs pushed on the women to maintain control over them until we can find a better solution? I'm not trying to be snarky, and maybe you're correct, but it just seems obvious to me that regulation by the government appears to be a better option since no better solution has been offered up over the last two thousand years. plus years

@paul1967 Except that legalization in Europe did not stop any of that, it just drove it underground. Sex slavery is still rampant.

I do not think the solution is in law, nor do I think it is attanable anymore than utopia or an end to war.
I think the only real solution is for humans to elevate their own sense of worth, to value other humans as much as themselves universally.

I am not holding my breath on that.